Inhaler



ATTORNEYS l. C. PACE INHALER Filed 0G13, 28, 1949 Oct. 9, 1951 Patented Oct. 9, 1 951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC `This invention relates t0 an nhaler, and more `1:ar,ticu1arly to an inhaler ease having a removable inner case or iiller.

. i It is an object of this invention to provide an nhaler of the kind to :be more particularly described hereinafter having a ller slidably engaged in an outer case and an air vent valve actuable upon sliding movement of the iiller upon opening the cover or closure of the outer case.

Another object of this invention is to provide 1an inhaler of this kind having a spring-pressed,

slidable insert or ller slidable, upon opening of the outer case, `to a position wherein vent or airpassage openings in the filler and outer case will be in registry for the free passage of air through :the iiller. Upon closing of the outer case, the yent openings will be positioned out of registry, in valve-closing position, to retain the volatile medication within the inhaler casing.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an inhaler of this kind having removable pins engaging through the outer casing and in elongated slots in the ller for limiting the upward sliding movement of the iller upon opening of the casing.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an inhaler of this kind which is adaptable for an ornate, more or less expensive outer casing which may be retained as a refillable pocket case having changeable fillers which may be replaced when and as desired or required.

With the above and other objects in View, my invention consists in the arrangement, combination and details of construction disclosed in the drawings and specification, and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an inhaler constructed according to an embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 2 2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail section, partly broken away, taken on the line 4-4 of Figure l;

Figure 5 is a side elevation, partly broken away and partly in section, of the inhaler in the open, operative position.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral I0 designates generally a novel inhaler constructed according to an embodiment of this invention. The inhaler Il) is of a pocket type, being of a size to be readily carried about in the pockets of a users clothing and is formed with an outer casing II and aninner ller I2. Both the outer Acasing 'II and ller I2 are preferably made of transparent plastic material, though it is understood that various other materials of a more ornate nature may as readily be used.

The outer casing II is formed with a lower receptacle-.like body I4 having a closure I5 hingedly mounted on one end wall thereof. The closure I5` is of a general cup shape, somewhat similar fto the lower body I4 in an inverted position. Afsuitable hinge I6 connects the cover I5 to the body 'I4 for swinging from a closed position overlying the receptacle body I4 to an open `position adjacent one side `of the body and openingin the same direction, as clearly shown in Figure 5 of the drawings. A depending latch or arm I'I is carried by one side of the cover I5 and depends from the lower edge of the side Wall opposite from the wall thereof which is hinged to the lower receptacle. A similararm I8 is car.- ried by the side wall of the receptacle I4 opposite from the respective hinge-bearing side wall. The arm I'I is adapted to frictionally engage the side wall of the receptacle I4 and the arm I8 engages the side wall of the closure I5 in side-by-side, adjacent relation for frictionally securing the cover I5 in its closed position. as readily noted in Figure 1 of the drawings.

The insert or iiller I2 is formed of a hollow body I 9 slidably engageable through the upper open end of the receptacle I 4 to be retained therein. The liller body I9 may be filled with or contain medicament cartridges or pads 20 lled with any suitable or desired volatile liquid as desired for use With inhalers for nasal disturbances. The upper end of the ller body I9 is substantially cylindrical in configuration and having avsubstantially convex, curved or rounded upper end 20 to be seated on a nostril of the person using the device. An opening 22 is formed on the tip of the curved portion of the liller body I 9 through which the medicinal vapors may passI when inhaled by the patient.

The medicinal, soaked cartridges 20 are initially engaged through an opening 24 in the bottom wall of the ller I2 into the ller and then.

the opening 24 may be sealed by the engagement therein of a closure plug 25. The closure plug may be sealed to the filler body or, in some instances, may be removably engaged in the opening 24.

The upper end of the filler body I2 will normally abut the lower side of the top wall of the closure I5, the iiller body being extensible to a higher position upon opening of the closure I5. A pair of coiled springs 26 are engaged between the lower end of the filler I2 and the inside surface of the bottom wall of the receptacle I4 for constantly biasing the iiller upwardly to an extended position for norm-al use, as clearly shown in Figure 5 of the drawings.

`The upward extension of the filler I2 is limited by a pair of limit pins 2'I threadably engaged through opposite side walls of the receptacle and slidably engageable in elongated slots 28 in the opposite side walls of the filler I2. A pair of longitudinally-extending ribs 29 are formed on each end wall of the filler I2 dening therebetween open-ended -air channels 30. An air vent opening BI is formed in each end wall of the filler I2 and opens into the respective channel 3|) between the filler and outer casing II. Another vent opening 32 is formed in each end wall of the outer casing II for registry with the adjacent vent opening of the iiller I2 in the raised or extended position of the ller. The pins 21, engaging in the slots 28 limit the extension of the ller toa position where the respective vents of the filler and casing are in transverse alignment to provide for the free passage of air Vthrough the filler when the inhaler is applied for use. Upon closing the cover I5, the top wall of the cover will engage the upper rounded end of the ller for pressing the ller I2 downwardly in the casing. Upon retraction of the filler against the spring tension, the vent openings 30 and 3'I will be moved out of aligned registry, thereby limiting the free passage of air therethrough and thus extending the useful life of the ller I2 having the cartridges soaked with the volatile medicinal uid.

I do not mean to confine myself to the exact details of construction herein disclosed, but claim all variations falling within the purview of the appended claim.

-ing a nasal portion to be engaged with a nostril of a patient, said nasal portion of said body having an opening therein through which the vapors liberated from the medicament pass when inhaled by the patient, a plurality of spaced vertically disposed coilspring's resting upon the bottom of said receptacle and engageable with the lower end of said body for urging said body out of the open end of said receptacle, said body having an opening in each of its side walls registrable with the vent opening in the adjacent side wall of said receptacle upon execution of the movement of said body'out of the open end of said receptacle, and a cup-shaped closure connected to said receptacle for swinging movement into and out of contact with the nasal portion of said body.

INGRAM C. PACE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,985,001 Thometz Dec. 18, 1934 2,159,111 Tohler May 23, 1939 2,318,636 Schaan? May 11, 1943 2,456,451 Seaver Dec. 14, 1948 

